Do you dream of being a millionaire? Maybe you have an ongoing fantasy of sleeping on a bed of one hundred dollar bills. Or maybe it’s a recurring daydream about pulling up to your Manhattan Beach mansion in your Tesla Roadster. Ahhh, you can practically taste the top-shelf cocktail your pool boy brings you as you work on your tan. Absolute bliss.
Now, unfortunately, I can’t help you with that. But…I can tell you how I, a struggling actor with a mountain of debt, was able to quit my soul-sucking customer service job, get out of debt, buy my first home, and give myself the time and creative freedom to pursue my dream of acting in film and television. Even if you’re not an actor, you might want to stick around if the following ideas appeal to you:
A) Quitting the job that is slowly chipping away at your entire being.
B) Getting out of debt.
C) Buying a Home.
D) Having full control over your own schedule so you can have more time to [insert favorite activity].
The Big Idea
At the start of 2016, I had nowhere to go but up. I had a 9-5 job in customer service that was supposed to be flexible, and yet, anytime I needed to leave (in my case, for an audition), the phones started ringing off the hook. Luckily, my supervisor solved the problem by suggesting I reschedule the audition for another day. Because it totally works like that. Spoiler alert: it does NOT work like that.
I was frustrated. My job sucked, I had just opened up another credit card (gotta love that 0% Intro APR), and I was no closer to realizing my dream. I felt stuck. So I did what any frustrated person at the end of their rope would do. I got on Facebook.
Ok, I know that Facebook hasn’t been cool since 2010 but I am a huge fan of Facebook Groups. In fact, I have found many a great resource in one group in particular so I started there. I started searching for any and all keyword combinations: “survival job”, “remote job”, “flexible job”, “great job for creatives”.
I saw hundreds of babysitting gigs; however, seeing that most children cry within 40 seconds of meeting me, I didn’t feel like it was a good fit. Not surprisingly, I also saw a lot of waitstaff jobs. And while I respect the service industry (tip your waiters, friends), I promise you that I am doing the world a favor by NOT being a waiter.
Then I saw it. One post from just a few months before.
I messaged her on the spot and got an interview.
What is a Notary?
I had heard of notaries. I had even had to use a UPS notary once or twice. But honestly, I didn’t quite understand what a notary was or how I was supposed to make cash doing it. After a quick Google search, I found that a notary public is a certified professional that serves as a witness to the signing of important documents.
Having a trained, impartial representative present during these signings helps deter fraud and provides legal integrity. A notary public will ensure every person signing the document at hand is in their right mind, understands the contents of the document, and is, in fact, signing willingly.
A notary public is a truly unbias third party. Every certified notary public is bound by an oath to act objectively. Therefore, if a notary finds themselves in a professional situation in which they have a personal interest, they must gracefully refer the client to another notary public.
The Interview
So I admit, I was a little nervous about the concept of being a notary public. The second a saw words and phrases like “certified professional”, “oath”, and “deter fraud”, I had a crisis of confidence. My customer service job consisted of me sitting on the couch in my leggings whilst troubleshooting pretty low-stakes problems. No legal documents. And definitely no oaths.
I figured I was way under-qualified but I was also desperate. So I put on my smartest blazer – fine, my only blazer that I kept exclusively for “detective” and “attorney” auditions – and decided that I would use my acting training to act the part of a notary public.
The interview was at a hip coffee shop in Eagle Rock. I instantly spotted Rachel. She sported a pile of gorgeous curls and an effortlessly cool vibe. But her look was more boho-chic than business professional. I instantly felt like an asshole for wearing a blazer to a hip coffee shop to interview with a cool girl who was only a few years older than me.
Luckily, she was more interested in me as a person than my blazer OR my ability to deliver an oath. We talked for a solid hour and a half. I told her about how my current job was sucking my soul and she told me about how owning her own mobile notary business allows her to spend time with her daughter and make music (she is a uber-talented recording artist). Once she decided I was a responsible person with decent social skills, she filled me in on the job.
What Does a Notary Do Actually?
What does a notary do? In Rachel’s terms, the job sounded a lot more chill and fun than my Google search had led me to believe. A notary public would:
- Show up to the signing.
- Check the driver’s license or other acceptable identification.
- Assess the situation to make sure nothing weird was going on (i.e. everyone was there of their own free will).
- Confirm the signer understood the documents.
- Perform the jurat or the acknowledgment.
- Have the client sign the notary journal and thumbprint (if necessary).
- Collect payment.
Best of all, the law does not allow notaries to give legal advice. Whew!
Now, historically, notaries make their money from the signature fee. Unfortunately, a notary public only makes $15 per signature ($10 back in 2016 when I started). Not exactly a get rich quick scheme.
Luckily, she explained, that’s where the travel fee comes in.
Mobile Notary | Traveling Notary
Rachel wasn’t just any notary. She was a mobile notary or a traveling notary. Who has the money to pay for a notary public to come to their office and perform a notarization? People with – well – money! I’m pretty sure I can’t disclose who was on her client list but if I did, you wouldn’t need a Google search to know who they were.
What I can say is: stars are a lot like us. Turns out, rappers buy mansions, famed actresses go through divorces, Oscar winners start businesses, and studio execs have to give a legal okay for their ex-spouse to take the kids to Europe for the summer. See? We’re basically the same.
As a mobile notary, you still charge for signatures, but the money is in the travel. Depending on what area of LA, what time of day, and how bad traffic is, mobile notary travel costs could range from $60 – $500.
Pop Quiz: you know when auditions do NOT take place? Midnight. Do you know who was more than willing to take those $500 jobs? This girl.
How To Become a Notary Public
I was in. Rachel was awesome, her commission structure was attractive, and as long as I got certified ASAP, she said she would take me under her wing and train me so I could start making money. I was excited and I was ready for a change. But first I had to get certified.
So how did I become a notary public? Now, the process varies by state but overall, it’s pretty standard:
- Take an online course.
- Complete the application.
- Take a state-administered exam.
- Fingerprint Scan | Background Check.
- Purchase a $15,000 Bond for $38 to protect yourself against financial loss.
- File your bond and take an oath of office (not as scary as it seemed) within 30 days at the county clerk office.
- Buy your notary swag – i.e. notary stamp, notary journal, etc.
- Get E&O (errors and omissions insurance). This is not mandatory but I highly recommend unless you are a robot, free from human error.
National Notary Association | NNA
When becoming a mobile notary public, your biggest resource will definitely be the National Notary Association, also known as NNA. I used the NNA as a one-stop-shop: from training to getting my E&O. They make it super easy for you by giving you specific instructions, based on the state you live in. 10/10, highly recommend!
Mobile Notary: A Day In The Life Of
Admittedly, it was slow to start. First, I had to invest in myself. You know what they say – you have to spend money to make money. And it wasn’t just the certification costs.
While Rachel’s go-to aesthetic was boho-hippie-flower child, she looked like a BOSS when she was on the job. Think blazer, a cute top, slacks or nice jeans, and heels. Oh, and she always paired her boss babe look with a power purse. Think about it, as a traveling notary public, you are carrying a huge binder filled with notary supplies that include:
- Notarization forms.
- Pens.
- Notary stamp.
- Notary journal.
- Ink (for thumbprints).
- Alcohol wipes (because who wants blue ink on their thumb all day).
Then, Rachel had to train me. I spent a few weeks accompanying her to jobs. I’d watch her make chit-chat, notarize documents, and collect payment until I had the process down. Then we reversed our roles. She would accompany me on jobs, watch me make chit-chat, notarize a document, and collect payment. After a week or so of this, I was ready to be released into the wild.
As a mobile notary, I had complete control over my own schedule. So if I didn’t have any auditions on the books, I would get dressed in my professional attire (happy to report that I had upgraded my ho-hum blazer to something a little more stylish) and wait for the jobs to role in. Basically, I would get a text that looked something like this:
3PM, 1001 Hollywood Blvd, Suite B. 3 sigs. $70 travel.
To which I would respond:
Confirmed.
Oftentimes, it felt we were planning seedy, back-alley deals. The texts were spontaneous and only included the necessary information. But even though the technology was pretty basic, it worked well. I would confirm my job, jump in the car – allowing plenty of time for traffic and parking – perform the notarization, and then on to the next one.
Some days were non-stop. Some days were radio silent. But most days consisted of a handful of jobs that had me moving at a comfortable pace. And even when I had downtime in between the jobs, I didn’t mind. I’d stop in to see a friend (if I had one in that neighborhood), try a new coffee spot, or work on auditions.
It wasn’t long before I settled into my new workflow. I had my routine down and I was making money. But there was one added benefit that I didn’t expect: major self-confidence.
Mobile Notary: From Zero To Hero
I didn’t realize how much I needed this job until I had it. Before I became a mobile notary, my day consisted of never leaving my home, not having control over my own schedule, and being yelled at by disgruntled customers. To add insult to injury, I was in Los Angeles! I was in the city where the magic happens and yet, I had to repeatedly miss out on opportunities to keep a roof over my head. There’s something brutal about watching your dream come true in your backyard, but for other people.
I look back at 2016 as the year my life changed and this job was a huge part of that. Not only did it give me complete control of my schedule but it got me outside meeting people, many of whom are pretty influential in entertainment. Of course, I would never bring a headshot with me when I had a studio job but if it naturally comes up in conversation, then it is what it is.
Being a businesswoman gave me self-confidence that extended to all facets of my life. After all, work begets work. Happiness begets happiness. Now, 3 years later, I am happy to report that I was able to dig myself out of credit card debt, buy my first home, and my acting career has moved forward leaps and bounds. I’ve worked on some pretty amazing projects, including an Emmy-nominated show, a superhero franchise, and a movie about a famed political activist that hits theaters in 2020, and that’s just this year.
Now, all I’m waiting for is an opportunity to work with one of the actors I’ve notarized for. Talk about worlds colliding.
By: Chelsea Alana Rivera
Chelsea Alana Rivera is an actor, writer, and mobile notary. She’s appeared in The Glorias, Council of Dads, Doom Patrol, and The Act. When Chelsea isn’t notarizing documents or acting, she is hanging with her overlord – a 5 lb. maltipoo.
